Biodegradble drink pod

ABSTRACT

A biodegradable single-serve pod container for use in single-serve hot beverage machine includes a top lid, a container side wall, a container bottom, whereby said top lid, container wall, and said container bottom are formed into a biodegradable single-serve pod container of at least one biodegradable material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Single-serve hot beverage machines such as the popular machines made by Keurig®, Nespresso®, and the like, are becoming increasingly popular. However, one difficulty in use of these machines relates to the waste product created by the single-serve pods. Single-serve pods typically have aluminum tops and are generally recyclable. However, as many persons do not engage in plastic and aluminum recycling, most of these pods end up in landfills and add to the ongoing problem of solid waste. The present invention has discovered that certain plant-based materials are configurable into a pod shape suitable to resist boiling water in these single-serve machines and produce a biodegradable pod system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention is a biodegradable single-serve pod container for use in single-serve hot beverage machine, said container comprising: a top lid, a container side wall, a container bottom, whereby said top lid, container wall, and said container bottom are formed of at least one biodegradable material are constructed and arranged to form a puncture orifice when used in a single-serve hot beverage machine.

In one embodiment, the present invention is further including at least one heat resistant, biodegradable coating. In this embodiment, a food grade, heat-resistant biodegradable coating is disposed either on the inside walls and bottom of the container, or on the entire container. This coating assists in providing a temporary barrier from elevated liquids placed in the container.

In one embodiment, the biodegradable material is a material derived from banana leaves.

In another embodiment, the biodegradable material is any one or more of a combination of materials selected from materials having a composition with characteristics that maintain structural integrity when in contact with liquids heated between about 45-100 degrees Celsius for a period of time between about 15-300 seconds.

These materials include, but are not limited to banana leaf based components, plant fibers (including, but not limited to corn leaves, sugar cane waste) plastarch material (PSM), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), including all polymers, isomers, derivatives, and combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the biodegradable single-serve pod includes at least one outer layer formed of a first biodegradable material and at least one inner layer formed of a second biodegradable material different from the first biodegradable material. Wherein the outer layer is disposed on the inner layer and wherein said outer layer formed of a first biodegradable material degrades at a faster rate than said inner material. Inner layer materials include, but are not limited to non-woven fabric, paper (such as conventional coffee filter papers) parchment paper, biodegradable waxed papers, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the invention is intended to make recycling easy as well. The pods of the invention are configured for immediate recycling after use along with the organic wastes contained therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of the coffee pod according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the coffee pod according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the coffee pod according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view from FIG. 1 of the corner of a coffee pod according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged additional partial side cross section view of the coffee pod according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a novel coffee pod system 10 in which coffee pod is defined by container side wall 16 and container bottom 14. Each of container side wall 16 and container bottom 14 define an interior cavity in which coffee or similar condiment 24 is placed therein. Each of container top lid 12 and container bottom 14 are constructed and arranged to form an orifice as is generally used in single-serve coffee dispensing machines. Dimension E will be an orifice formed on the container top lid 12 and dimension F will be an orifice formed on container bottom 14. Dimension A is the diameter of top lid 12. Dimension C related generally to the height of container side wall 16 that does not include the distance of Dimension D, whereby a lip is formed on container wall 16. Container wall 16, as generally seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, include an outer wall 20, an inner wall 18, and a structural emulsion 22.

It is generally understood that all of the components forming container 10 be formed of biodegradable material. In one embodiment, each component of container system 10 is formed of material derived from banana leaves. In another embodiment of the present invention, each component is formed of appropriate plant-based fiber that is biodegradable. The biodegradable material used in construction of the present invention is selected and must be able to withstand the heat of boiling water in an environment of known use.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A biodegradable single-serve pod container for use in single-serve hot beverage machine, said container comprising: a top lid, a container side wall, a container bottom, whereby said top lid, container wall, and said container bottom are formed into a biodegradable single-serve pod container of at least one biodegradable material and are constructed and arranged to form a puncture orifice when used in a single-serve hot beverage machine.
 2. The biodegradable single-serve pod container of claim 1, further including at least one heat resistant, biodegradable coating.
 3. The biodegradable single-serve pod container of claim 1 wherein said at least one biodegradable material is a material derived from banana leaves.
 4. The biodegradable single-serve pod container of claim 1 wherein said at least one biodegradable material is selected from materials having a composition that maintain structural integrity when in contact with liquids heated between about 45-100 degrees Celsius for a period of time between about 15-300 seconds.
 5. The biodegradable single-serve pod container of claim 1 wherein said at least one biodegradable material includes an outer biodegradable material disposed on an inner biodegradable material, wherein said outer material degrades at a faster rate than said inner material. 